Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Help In Choosing Atlanta Roofing

By Andrew B. Spates


Since man first found shelter in caves, he has fought with leaking roofs. Water drips can be uncomfortable for the residents in a home and cause damage to the structure of the building and contents inside. Today there are more choices than ever for someone looking at Atlanta roofing materials.

Although asphalt shingles provide the most common choice, the homeowner also has other options. These range from clay tiles and wood shakes to rubber materials made to look like slate and steel panels. Engineered materials are growing in popularity, and can make use of recycled materials to meet building codes requiring the roof be constructed of materials that are fireproof.

Asphalt shingles are used on the majority of homes in the US. In addition, three tab shingles are the most common type used. While one of the least expensive options, homeowners still face choices of many different colors. In addition, most of these shingles carry a minimum of a 20 year guarantee, with some offering a 30 year warranty.

For years, the primary choice for use on a home was wood shakes or shingles. Wood, if properly maintained can last half a century. In fact, if installed with galvanized nails instead of stainless steel, the rust-proofing metal often wears away and allows the nails to rust before the shingles reach the end of their useful life. These shingles are made out of cedar. Shingles give a uniform smooth look, but shakes, which are hand split are thicker and less uniform in nature. Within a few years, the weather turns them gray or silver.

For the look of shakes with the fire suppressing ability of asphalt shingles, many homeowners choose heavy asphalt shingles. These so called fake shakes also provide a long life and look good on a house. One of their best characteristics is they require little to no maintenance.

Metal provides another choice. Metal materials are no longer limited to corrugated steel that was often used for agriculture or utility purposes. Copper and standing seam metal roofs are just two of the other options. Additionally, some homeowners are choosing metal shingles. When correctly installed the metal roof can provide a life of 50 or more years.

Today, there are many Atlanta roofing choices. Although most homeowners and contractors choose the less expensive three tab asphalt shingles, they should realize there are other choices. While some are more expensive initially, they may offer a longer lasting choice that makes them worth the money invested.




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